"The extraordinary World War II story of the U.S. Navy's finest hour"--P. facing t.p
Includes bibliographical references (p. 445-499) and index
Tin cans -- Last stand -- A vanishing graveyard -- Highest traditions -- Men of Task Unit 77.4.3 killed in action, October 25-28, 1944
Chronicles the October 1944 battle off Samar between a vastly outnumbered fleet of American warships and a flotilla of the Japanese Navy, a struggle that changed the course of World War II in the Pacific